Railway hopper construction



Sept. 18, 1945. v. wlLLouGHBY 2,385,245

RAILWAY V'IOPPER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 14, 1941 s sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 18, 1945.

V. WILLOUGHBY RAILWAY HOPPER CONSTRUC'IION Filed Jafn. 14, 1941 Sept., 18, 1945. v. wlLLouGl-IBY RAILWAY. HOPPER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n V.Z mW m n w ...am VZ NNWQ I l l I l l I l Il 2. t .u am, .HHLHMMMFLuuk? NQ, fm, -mml m @wml Patented Sept. 18, 1945 OFFICE RAILWAY HOPPER CONSTRUCTION f Victor Willoughby, Ridgewood, N. J., assigner to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 14, 1941, Serial No. 374,311 6 claims. (Cl. 10s-282) This invention relates to hoppers in general and in particular to hqppers for railway use in which the discharge from the hopper is controlled by sliding doors.

For the handling of sugar, cement or other commodities which must be kept dry both during transit and while discharging, special cars and containers with slide doors havebeen built, but in all such cars or containers the trackway upon which the door slides has been exposed -to the discharging lading with the result that the material accumulated on the slide-way often became caked and hardened and prevented the operation of the door. It is an object of the Apresent invention to provide a new and improved slide door and operating mechanism which will prevent contact of the discharging lading with the slide-ways.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a two-part hopper outlet framefor sliding doors in which the slide-ways may be readily removed for replacement or repair.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved frame for hopper discharge outlets which may be readily fabricated out of standard shapes and plates.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. from a. study of the following description and accom-` panying drawings, in which i Figure 1 is a half end and half sectional ele-` vational View of the container having the improved door and frame applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a half side and half central sectional elevational View of the container hopper with the improved door applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a half plan viw withpart in section and taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the hopper and door operating mechanism of Figure 1 but showing the door in open position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the improved door and operating mechanism with the door in closed position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan'view of the hopper frame which supports the door;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modication thereof and with the view taken on line 'I--l of Fig. 8; n

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the modified form and taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 10 is an end view of the winding mechanism used to control the door.

Referring now .to the drawings in detail, it will be seen immediately that the improved hopper frame and slidel door of Figures' 1 to 6 inclusive have been shown as applied to a less than carload lot container, `while the slightly modied form of Figures 8 to 1G inclusive has been shown as applied to a more or less standard railway hopper car. It is, of course, obvious that eitherldoor 'and its operating `mechanism could be applied to either a container or to a railway hopper car of more or less standard design.

In Figures 1 to 6 inclusive the less than c'arload lot container is shown as builtup of angle uprights 2, joined togetheriby corrugated sheets 4, joined together at the top by a top closure sheet E, having an' opening therein adapted to be closed by a door 8. The lower edgesof the corrugated sheets 'are joined together by downwardly converging hopper outlet forming sheets I0 which are suitably braced to prevent distortion by angle shape stiifener plate I2. The hopper outlet frame may be made separately and attached to the hopper sheets or, as shown in the present case, the hopper sheetsA may of themselves form. a part of` the frame. As clearly shown ,-the discharge frameiis-formed by welding flat bars I4 .toY the .loweredge of the .hopper forming sheets and suitably bracing these bars tothe hopper sheetsby'gussets I 6, thus a hopper discharge'opening is formed surrounded onV all four sides by an upper frame having thelower surface disposed in substantially a horizontal plane.

The lower part ofthe hopper discharge frame is formed in thepresent instance by sidepieces or slide-ways I8 formedof Z barsfwith the upper iiange adapted` to `contact and be fastened to the bars I4 by any suitable means such as bolts I9. The lower flange of the Z-shaped slide-ways is directed inwardly and has the major portion of the flange clipped away, thus forming a short ledge or shelf 20 upon which the'door slideV rails may slide.. The slide-ways may terminate at the back edge vof the hopper or, as in the present instance, they may extend beyond-the hopper back edge for attachment to the container frame, with suchattachrnent accomplished by means of supporting gussets 2l. The slide-ways are r'connected together adjacent the back edge of the hopper 'discharge opening by means of a flat bar 22 extending between andV attached to theinturned anges of the slideways, all as clearly 'shown in Fig. 4. This bar islocated inthe'planeof the inturned flanges 6 that the liat bar 22 is formed with projections or ledges 26 projecting into the discharge outlet opening in order to support'iaportion oi' the door when in closed position. The -slideways are further joined togetlfler"bylJnreanslofvv a flat bar 21 welded or otherwise securedv tothev inturned flanges of the Z-shaped slideways and this bar is located, as clearly shown in Fig. 4; in the plane of the flanges and in spaced rela.- tion to the upper part of the hopper discharge frame. At the forward or operating mechanism side 'of the hopper the slide-ways must be ex'- tended a distance at least equal to the hopper opening and as clearly shown in the drawings the slide-ways have been so extended andy are tied into the container structureV by means of bracing gussets 28.

The slide door is formed of long side or slide rails 30 joined together at their forward, intermediate and rear portions by vertically eX- tending bars 32, 33 and.v 34 respectively.' The forward and intermediate bars, as well as parts of the slide rails aretied together by upper and lower door plates 36 and' 3T respectively, with the upper or load supporting plate reinforced against bending by means of centrally disposed angles 38 (Figs. 2 and 5). The angles 38, together with the upper and lower door plates,'f`orm a housing for a screw 40' welded or otherwise securedto` the intermediate bar 33 and adapted to be engagedby an internally threaded sleeve 42' terminating in an outer combined thrust collar and operating end 43 rotatably supported in a bracket-l 44 carried by the container frame. The sleeve 42 is of sufcient length as to always protect the threads of the screw 4U, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5`

From the preceding description it will be seen that the hopper frame is made'in two parts, the upper of whichis readily welded to Vor becomes'a part of the hopper itself, while the lower part is removable for renewal vor repair of the slideways; also removal of the lower part facilitates assembly of or removal of the door from the structure. In assembling the construction the prefabricated door, together with its operating mechanism, will be dropped into position on1 the lower part of the hopper frame and `with the slide rails resting uponthe inturned flanges 2U of the slide-ways and with the open partof the door having the slide rails located between the ends of angle 23 and the webs of the slide-ways. After the door hasv been. so-positioned in. the lower part of the hopper. frame the combined door and lower frame may be bolted or Votherwise secured to the hopper upper frame. With thedoor and frame in assembled positionf and thedoor closed., as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, rotation of the sleeve 42 will draw the bar 33` toward the operator and, since` this bar 33 forms an integralA part ofv the'door, the door plates and long slide` rails4 will movel along the inturned. flanges 2B' of the trackway or slide-ways toward the operator. Suchmovement will continue until rear cross bar 3'4 of-the door contacts a part-of the frame, aszclearly shown:

is reversed the door plates and entire door structurewillbe `forced toward a closed position in which the bar 33 and lower door plate will be supporteduponl projecting ledges 2S of frame bar 22. It will, of'course, be obvious that the lower door plate may be dispensed with if desired since it does not Contact any lading but merely serves tobrace and stifen the upper plate and the lower edges of the slide rails.

Referring now to the modified form shown` in Figs. 7 to l0 inclusive, it will be seen that the modified door and frame has been attached` to the discharge end of hopper sheets 50 which are part of a more or less standard railway car having customary center sills 52. In this form the hopper ,discharge framejisv again formed in two pieces" but so designed as to permit prefabrication of the upper part of the frame. This upper frame part is formed with inclined plates 54 welded together and to a vertically extending plate 56, with all of the plates welded to substantially horizontally disposed bars 58 and with all of the plates properly gussetedor braced by gussets 60. It will be seen `that the pre-fabricated upper discharge frame' is thus substantially the same as that used in connection withA theless than carload lot container shown in Figs. l ,to 6 inclusive. The lower hopper discharge frame is formed by slide-ways or trackways 621 of v general Z formation with the upper outwardly ydirected flanges bolted orotherwise secured' as at El@ to the upper frame and with the inturned flanges clipped to provide short supporting ledges or slideways 65. Theseslidejways project a considerable distance on either side of thehopper discharge opening and are vjoined together adjacent their rear ends by an angle brace and stop 61. Likewise, the slide-ways are joined together adjacent the rear edge of the discharge opening by means of a flat bar 6.8 welded or otherwise secured to the flanges 66 of the slide-ways and having secured thereto an inclined plate or bar 59 which in turnv is secured to an overlapping angular portiongof a bar 1U. The ends of bars G9. andl are spaced from and free of contactwith the web of the slide-ways, but the upper portion of plate or bar 10 is adapted to be bolted Vorother wise securedto the upper hopper frame member.

" An' angular plate 12 is provided `adjacent the forward sideof the hopper and is bolted as at i3 to the upper frame member and extends between the sliderailsof the door later to beY described.

`'The slide door is formed as clearly shown oi slide bars or slideerails 'I6 joined. together adjacent their forward and rear ends by angle bars 18 and19 respectively. The intermediate portions of the slide bars or slide rails are joined together by means of door plate which is welded to the lower edge of Athee-slide rails and has attached thereto a cross bar 82 of square or other shape adapted to engage the back surface of angular plate 12, thereby preventing entrance of moisture at the forward edge of the door. Asfclearly shown in Fig` 7. the rear edge' of the door is adapted to fit beneathl the edge of plate lll and abut plate S9, thereby sealing the closing edge of the door.

In order to operate the door a c'rleiis Q4 Vis ati` tached to the forward edge thereoiian/d is connected to a chain 86 which wraps around an idler pulley or sheave 88 and around a driving pulley or sheave 90 to be again anchored to the door` by a U bolt or other means attached to cross bar 'I8 of the door. 'Ifhe idler pulley 88 and driving pulley E arecarried upon shafts supported in any suitable manner by the extended portions of the slide-ways which are in turn braced from the car structure by bracing gussets 92. In order to drive the pulley 90 it is xed upon its shaft and the shaft is extended laterally beyond the outer trackway and has attached thereto the operating head 94 adapted to receive a removable operating bar or rod; In most instances railway hopper cars where carrying cement or other commodities discharge into bins or screwed conveyers through the medium of flexible boots preventing `contamination of the discharging material. In order to attach such'boots to the present frame. it is only necessary to weld small angles to the lower frame adjacent one side and end of the hopper discharge opening and to weld a bar 9'! to the outer edge of one of the slideways as clearly shown in Fig. 9. In this way the frame at the upper end of the flexible boot may be supported by angles 96 on two sides and be clamped at the other two sides to bars 91 and 63.

In assembling the improved door and door frame, the upper part of the door frame will be attached to the hopper discharge sheets, after which the preassembled door may be lowered into the preassembled lower part of the frame with the door slide rails overlapping the ends of angle plates 69 and 1U. The angle plate 12 is bolted or otherwise secured to the upper hopper frame, after which the preassembled door and lower frame are raised into position and bolted fast, with the slide rails of the ydoor lapping the ends of angle plate 12. The operating mechanism may now be attached by merely fastening the chain at its ends to the door with the intermediate portions wrapped around idler 88 and drive pulley 90. With the door in closed position rotation of the drive pulley in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 will cause tension to be placed in the chain 86 and through clevis 34 the door will be pulled toward the idler pulley 88. In the meantime the chain passing 'over drive pulley 9!) will be fed out so that cross bar 'i8 of the door may move. Full operation of the drive pulley will cause the door to assume a fully open positionwith cross bar 19 contacting the outer portion of the hopper discharge frame and with the door plate located free of the discharge opening and beneath drive pulley 9?, the slide rails will always be riding upon inturned flanges 66 of the slide-ways and at no time will these slide-ways be exposed to the lading discharging through the hopper outlet. Therefore, there can be no material on the slideways to cake or harden and prevent easy operation of the door at all times.

It will be obvious from the preceding descriptions that either type of door frame and door may be used on either the less than carload lot container or upon the standard rail car hopper and without departing in the least from the spirit of the invention. It will also be obvious that various modifications and rearrangements of parts, other-than those Vshown and described, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the `following claims.

What is claimed is: y f 1. VIn a railway hopper structure the combination of a door frame secured to the hopperf'orming sheets and providing a discharge outlet, said frame being formed by -an upper part rigidly connected to the hopper sheets and by a lower part removably secured to the upper part on at least three sides thereof, said lower part beingV constructed with oppositely directed slideways extending beneath and to at least one side of the discharge outlet, said slideways being joinedtogether intermediate their ends by stop means connected to said upper part, a door slidably carried by said slideways and including a horizontally extending door plate of a width suiiicient to close the discharge outlet and bear against said stop means, and vertically extendingr strips secured to the side edges of said door plate and supporting said Vplate upon the slideways, said strips being of a length substantially twice the widthfof the door plate whereby said slideways will be covered by said strips at all times irrespective of the door plate position.

2. In a railway hopper structure the combination of a door frame secured to the hopper forming sheets and providing a discharge outlet, oppositely arranged slideways "forming a part of said frame, a door slidably carried by said slideways and comprising vertically spaced apart door plates of a width suiicient to close the discharge outlet, vertically extending slide rails secured to the side edges of the door plates and joining said plates together, said slide rails being of a length substantially twice the width of the door plates, means secured to said door and hopper structure and operable to shift said slide rails along ,J

said slideways whereby said door may open or close said discharge outlet, said yslide rails covering the portions of the slideways beneath the discharge outlet at all times and irrespective of the door position.

3. In a railway hopper structure the combination of a door frame secured to the hopper forming sheets and providing a discharge outlet, oppositely arranged slideways forming a part of said frame and joined together by stop means projecting into the path of movement of the door, a door slidably carried by said slideways and comprising in part a door plate of a width sufcient to bear against said stop means and close the discharge outlet, slide rails secured to the side edgesof the door plate and normal to the plane thereof and of a length substantially greater than the width of the door plate, means secured to the door and hopper structure and operable to move said slide rails along the slideways past said stop means to open and close the discharge outlet, said means including screw means wholly housed by the door structure from contact with the hopper contents, and said slide rails stiffening the door plate and protecting said slideways at the discharge outlet from contact with the hopper contents at all times irrespective of the door position.

4. In a railway hopper structure the combination of a door frame secured to the hopper forming sheets and providing a discharge outlet. oppositely arranged slideways forming a part of said frame, a door slidably carried by said slideways and comprising spaced apart door plates, slide rails joining said door plates together along their side edges, said slide rails extending normal to the planes of the door plates thereby forming a box section door, said door Aplates being of a width su'icient to close the discharge outlet and said slide rails being of a length substantially twice the width of the door plates, means secured to said door and hopper structure and operable to shift said slide rails along said slideways whereby said box section door may open or close said discharge outlet, said means including a screw rod located within said box section door and protected from contact with the lading, said slide rails covering the portions of the slideways beneath the discharge outlet at all times and irrespective of the door position.

5. In a railway hopper structure the combination of a door frame secured to the hopper forming sheets and providing a discharge outlet, oppositely arranged slideways forming a part of said frame, a door slidably carried by said slideways and comprising spaced apart door plates joined together along their side edges by vertically extending slide rails, horizontally spaced angle members interposed between said door plates intermediate said slide rails and forming a housing together with the door plates, a screw rod in said housing, a sleeve secured to said hopper structure and engaging said screw rod to move said door from closed to open position, said door plates beingv of a width sufcient to close thedischarge outlet and said slide rails being of a length substantially twice the width of the door plates whereby said slide rails will cover the portions-of the slideways beneath the dischag'utletfat all times and irrespective of the door positionf 6. In a railway hopper structure the combination of a door frame secured to the hopper forming sheets and providing a discharge outlet, said frame being formed by an upper part rigidly connected to the hopper sheets and by a lower part removably secured to the upper part on at least three sides thereof, said lower part being constructed with oppcsitely directed slideways extending beneath and to. at least one side of the discharge outlet, said slideways being joined together intermediate their ends by stop means connected to said upper part, a. door slidably carried by said slideways and including a horizontally extending door plate of a width sufficient to close the discharge outlet and bear against said. stop means, and vertically extending. strips secured to the side edges of said door plate and supporting said plate upon the slideways, said. strips being of a length substantially twice the width of the door plate whereby said slideways will be covered by said strips at all times` irrespective of the door plate position, and chain and sprocket means-secured to the door and hopper structure to open and close the discharge 30 outlet.

VICTOR WILLOUGHBY. 

